Sidney Rudy -- respected, longtime S.F. attorney

Published 4:00 am, Saturday, April 16, 2005

Attorney Sidney Rudy, a founding partner of a large San Francisco law firm and namesake of a park on the city's waterfront, died April 9. He was 93.

Mr. Rudy, of Kentfield, began 62 years of law practice after graduating from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall in 1935. He specialized in real estate and business cases but also represented some entertainers, including the Kingston Trio, the Pointer Sisters and jazz musicians Stan Getz and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, said partner James Holden.

Mr. Rudy also represented the developers of Pier 39, the commercial complex near Fisherman's Wharf. When the project opened to the public in 1981, the city recognized his contribution by naming an open-space area Sidney Rudy Waterfront Park.

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In 1985, his six-lawyer firm merged with a larger firm to form Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Rudy, which now has 125 lawyers. Mr. Rudy remained with the firm until 1997, when he retired at age 86.

"He was of a breed of practitioners, perhaps a disappearing type, who could be incisive and tough and at the same time polite, gentle and understanding with friend and foe alike," said another partner, John Vlahos.

Holden, Mr. Rudy's partner at both the smaller and larger firms, said opposing lawyers "would sometimes leave the room and see if he couldn't bring the principals together in a business deal because he so quickly established .. . trust."

Mr. Rudy was also a longtime Zionist who aided immigrants to Israel and was a founder of Congregation Rodef Shalom in San Rafael, Holden said.

Mr. Rudy's wife, Olga, died four years ago. He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Schwartz, and two sons, Alan and Chuck Rudy.

A memorial service was held Wednesday. The family requests donations in his name to Congregation Rodef Shalom, 170 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA 94903, or the Hospice of Marin, 17 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur, CA 94939.